Multi Meets Poly: Multiculturalism and Polyculturalism Go on a First Date is a thought-provoking and often-humorous reflection on the theoretical and practical differences between two powerful social ideas: multiculturalism and polyculturalism.
By personifying these ideas as human characters-one male, one female-and by endowing each character with profession rivalry, intellectual one-upmanship, and sexual tension, a would-be romantic evening becomes an intriguing vehicle for exploring American interpretations of pluralism, cultural interchange, and diversity.
Written by
Directed by
Executive Producers
Director of Photography
Editor, Script Supervisor and Assistant Director
Set Design
Costume Designer and Props Master
Original Compositions
Production Manager
Dramaturg
Location Sound Mixer
Post-Production Sound
Assistant Camera and Grip
Gaffer
Make Up and Hair
Script Development Support provided by
Gordon Chow as MULTICULTURALISM
Virginia Lee Marie Martinez as POLYCULTURALISM
About Face Theatre
Eric Branholm
The Field Foundation of Illinois
The First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple
Elizabeth Gingerich
Hannoun Rugs from Morocco
Elise Hausken
Becky Klein
Jeanette Kleymeyer
Claire Melvin
Allison Schuette
The Siragusa Family Foundation
Writers Theatre
Valparaiso University, Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2014 Planning Committee
Elizabeth Wuerffel
Roger Wykes
December 4, 2014 | Columbia College, Chicago, Illinois
December 19, 2014 | Silk Road Rising, Chicago, Illinois
January 6, 2015 | Harbach Theater, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois
January 17, 2015 | Silk Road Rising, Chicago, Illinois
January 18, 2015 | Silk Road Rising, Chicago, Illinois
April 24, 2015 | Asian American Studies Conference, Evanston, Illinois
May 21, 2015 | The University of Chicago Divinity School, Chicago, Illinois
October 29, 2015 | Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana
August 18, 2016 | The Living Theatre, hosted at Silk Road Rising, Chicago, Illinois
October 28, 2020 | Anti-Racist Book Club, National New Play Network, hosted online, USA
July 9, 2021 | Roosevelt University, hosted online, Chicago, Illinois
February 9, 2022 | Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
October 3, 2022 | The Saints, hosted online, Chicago, Illinois
March 24, 2023 | Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio